Fuse for projectiles.



K. VLLER. FUSE FOR PROJECTILBS. APPLIUATION FILED 1130.18.1907.

Patented May 4, 1909.

' UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

'KARL voLLEs, or DUSSELDORF, GERMAN-Y, AssIeNoR To RnErNrs'cHE METALLWAAREN- UND MASGEINENFABEIK, or DUSSELDORF-DEEENDORF, GERMANY.

FUSE Fon rnoJEc'rILEs. V

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 4, 1909.

Application led December 18, 1907. Serial No. 407,010.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, KARL VLLER, engineer, a subject'of the German Emperor, residing at Dusseldorf, 17 Jlicherstrasse,

5 Germany,. have invented certain new and useful .Im rovements in Fuses for Projectiles; and do. hereby declare the following to be la full, clear, and exact description of .the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of this invention is to rovidel a f projectile in which' the fuse may' e made very sensitive and be ignited upon a slight impact of the dischargedrojectile,.while at 'the same time the safety evice for the firing pin may be made stronger than'has heretoore been possible so that the premature explosion .of the rojectile during the transportation or handling ofthesame is prevented.

This object is attained in the device illustrated in the accompanying drawing andthe invention consists 1n certain novel features of the same 'as Will be 'hereinafter first fully described and then particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the" drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are lungi;

tudina'l'seotions takenat right angles to each other, Fig. 1 showing'the parts in the positions assumed during transportation, and Fig. 2 showing the position assumed `at the moment ofignition of thef'use; Figs. 3 and 4 are similar views showing some modifications .in thedetails of construction.

For conveniencein assembling, the fuse casing, .5, is made in two parte, threaded together and secured in the front end of the rojectile by'means of threads 16 engaging Pinternal threads in the bore oi the sliaell, as'-V Will "be readily understood. In .the V`front end of the `fuse casing is secured by any-.suitable means, such as a screw 19, an'anvil-casing, 3, in whichis placed an anvil, 1, the anvil being supported 1n the casing by means of Y interengaging spiral ribs 18.

A, The ignition cap, 2, .containing a fulminate, is ,placed in a chamber near therear end of the anvil and is secured .therein by` a plug,

"20, a central o ening, 21, beig provided in' .therear end ol \t'he anvil to admit the iiring in tothe cap, and a passa e, 22, being ormed in `theanvil in' order t at the iiame produced by the ignition capmay pass to the .--detonating char e. IThe .rear end of the provided with an opening, 23, for the passage of the flame to the detonating charge. The iiring in, 10, is carriedby a stirrup, 11, which bri ges or straddles a lameuiding and lcharge-holding saddle, 24, the Iegs or sides of the stirrup bearing against the Walls of the fuse casing Aand the top or shoulder of 'the stirrup fitting closely between the sides of the saddle so that the firing pin Will be guided 'to enter the central hole, 25, in the plate 9, and the hole 21 in the anvil With certainty.4 The saddle is held between the rear end of the anvil casing 3 and the front end of the rear section of the fuse casing,1as shown, and longitudinal passages, 26, are formed through the branches of the saddle to guide the lame to the detonating charge. The detonating'charge, 4, is carriedin a capsule or cartridge held by the rear end of the saddle With its frontend in communication Withthe passage 26 of the saddle. While the` ilame could, of course, be .permitted to attack the charge 4 directly, I prefer to guard against attenuation of Vthe lame and obtain an accumulative explosive eifectby placing in the assa e 26, which charges Will be reachedlby a ame from a small or Weak ignition and by causing small preliminary detonations will assure detonations of the main charge. onating chamber is em ty except for the detonating charge 4A`and t at the Walls of the -use casing are thicker around the said chamber thanl at other points of its length.

be spent without causing an explosion of the burstingchar epand toinsure this result the Walls of the se-casing andthe device by which the bursting charge is held should be of material thatcannot lbe affected'by the detonation. It is essential thatthe firing in be held toward the rear end of the pro- -jectileuntil the projectile 'strik and for this purpose a spring, 2,8, is arran between the late .9 and'the top of the stirrup -11 so as to hold 'the stirrup normally against the seat of the saddle 211, .as shown in Fig. 1. When the projectile strikes,`the pin is carried for- A. central longitu al bolt, 8', secured rigidly in the rear end or bottom of the fuse casingt and the bursting charge 1s placed smaller preliminary detonatingcharges, 277, Y

It will be observed that the det- Consequently, a premature detonation will Ward to the 'firing (Episition shown in'Fig. 2.

. 55 anvilI casing is cosedby a plate, 9,' whichl aroundthis bolt Va capsleror car- 110 tridge, 6, the front end of which is closed by a nut, 7, which engages the front or inner end of the boltby means of a left-hand thread.

When the projectile is fired from a gun, the rotary motion imparted thereto will coact with the inertia of the anvil .to cause the anvil to ride rearwardly upon the spiral ribs 18 and assume a position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, against the plate 9. The rotary motion of the casing relative to the anvil will bring the passage 22 into aline-ment with the opening 23 in the plate 9, sa that when ignition occurs a continuous uninterrupted passage for the flame will be provided. The rotary motion imparted to thefprojectile in 'firing will also be transmitted tothe bolt 8 which will thereupon be disengaged from the nut 7 and leave the capsule or main cartridge 6 free to slide forward on the bolt and enter the detonating chamber so as to envelop the detonating charge.

From the foregoing it will be seen that when the projectlle is being transported or handled, the anvil will be heldy at the front end of the fuse casing while the firing pin will be held rearward away from the ignition cap by its safety device or spring 28 and the main charge will be protected by its safety device or nut 7. Duringthe flight of the projectile after firing, the anvil recedes to a osition against the plate, 9 and brings the lgnition cap into position to be punctured by the firing in, and the main charge will move forward) to surround the detonator charge and rest against the stirrup but the firing pin will still be held at rest in its rearward position. When the projectile strikes, the impact will cause the main charge to slide forward in the detonating chamber and around the detonating` charge 4, this movement forcing the stirrup to overcome the tension of the spring 28 and carry the firing pin against and into the ignition cap, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4, whereu on the explosion will occur, as will be rea ily understood.

In Figs. 3 and 4, the anvil is supported in its forward initial position by a'sprin 29, instead of interengaging spiral ribs as s own in Figs. 1 and 2, and in order that the rotary motion of the projectile may force the anvil rearward and bring the passage 22 into alinement With the opening 23 in the pl te 9, a cam, 30, is formed on the front ent? of the anvil to ride against a projection, 31, on the casing. Instead of the spring 28 to hold the firing pin in its position of rest, I may employ a soft-metal pin, 14, inserted through the stirrup and the saddle. Such a pin will hold the parts in a Afixed' relation during flight or While intransportation, but upon impact against the target will be sheared off under the forward impulse of the stirru and leave the firing pin free to assume the the fired from a gun,

thereby shear ofl'" the pin 12, as will be understood, it being noted,"on reference to Fig. 3, that a small space is left between the end of the cartridge or capsule and the end-of the fuse casing to accommodatey this initial' receding of the capsule. In the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the rotary/:movement limparted l' to the projectile by the rilling of the gun will disengage the nut 7 from the bolt 8 to release the cartridge and will, in doing's0,.

feed the cartridge forward a distance equal to the thicknessof the nut so th at 'the initial movement of the capsule l'or cartridge is not the same in the two forms. The subse-f.

quent action, however, is the 'same'.in, both forms, the capsule creepingforward during the flight of thevprojectile because, having` acquired the forward movement of the same, it is not subjected to the retardation effect due to the resistance of the air u on'the casing and projectile. This forwar creeping movement is arrested7 by the contact of the capsule with the ends of the stirrup so` I that, when the projectile'strikes the target the detonating charge 4 will be enveloped by the cartridgeandj'the impact will cause the firing pin ytoenter and set off theigni' tion cap, which action will be followed by an explosion of the cartridge.

what I claim is 1 i ica Having thus fullyy described my invention,'

1. In a fuse for projectiles, the combinal tion of an ignition cap, a firing pin arranged in rear of said cap, means for holding'the cap and the firing pin normally apart, and means for causin ,the cap to assume a position nearer the ring pin when motion is imparted to the projectile, .the firing pin beling adapted to penetrate the cap when the motion of the projectile is arrested.

2. In a fuse for projectiles, the combination of an anvil carrying an ignition caip and having outlet passages for thev ignition ame, a detonating charge, means for directin the ignition flame upon said charge, an means between the i ition cap and the detonating charge for ring the ignition cap.

3. In a fuse for projectiles, the combination of an ignition cap, a detonatin charge,

Va slidably mounted maln charge a apted to envelop said detonating .char e, means for firin the ignition cap, means or conveym ame to the ,said detonatmg charge, an

' 65 position. Insteadof fastening the nut 7 to a series of preliminary detonating charges of 130 successively increasing strength arranged in the path of the ignition flame and arranged to be successively ired thereby.

4. In a fuse for projectiles, the feombinationr of an anvil carrying an ignition cap,

means whereby the anvil willJ be held normally in a forward position but will be moved rearward when the 4projectile is fired, means for-limiting the rearward vmovement of the anvil, a firing pin arranged' in rear' -of the anvil, and means for holding the firing pin normally retracted and permitting it to penetrate the ignition cap upon impact of the projectile.

-5. In a fuse 4tion of an ignition caa firing in arran ed in rear of the ignition cap, an a cartridge slidably mounted in rear of the firing pin and adapted to drive the said p ininto-t tion cap.

6. In a fuse for projectiles, the combination of an ignition ca means for moving said cap rearwardly a penetrate the 1 cap; means for holding said stlrrup retracted,-l a cartridge .adapted uponl impact of the projectile to actuate said stirrup and yovercome its Aholding' n:1 eans','and

means for holding the cartridge, normally against movement.

8. The combination of van ignition cap, a saddle arranged in rear of said cap and having passages for the flameJ` therefrom, adctonating charge in rear of the saddle and in line with said passages, 4a firing pin seated on saidsaddle, means for holding the firing pin normally to 1ts seat, and means for overcoming said holding means and forcing the fir- .ing pin into the ignition cap.

9. The combination of an ignition cap, a

s saddle arranged in rear of Vsaid cap and havr nating' charge in rearof'the saddle and in'4 ing passages for the-flame therefrom, a detoline with said passages, means for holding the firing pnnormally to its seat, a main for projectiles, the y combinai charge adapted'to move over the detonating charge and drive the firingpin into the ignition cap, and means for normally preventing movement of the main charge.

10. In a fuse for projectiles, the combination of an anvil mounted to recedel when the projectile is fired, an ignition cap carried by said anvil, -a stop the-anvil to limit t e recedin movement of the same, a iiring pin mounte in rear of said sto plate, and means whereby the said in wil be normally held from the sto plate ut will be permitted to pass throug the same and penetrate the ignition cap vupon impact of the rojectile.

11. n a fuse for projectiles, thev combina-` tion of an ignition cap, a saddle arranged in rear of said cap, and aving passages, for the flame therefrom, astirrup seated on saidv saddle and carrying a iiring. pin in to penetrate the cap, a detonating c rear o f the saddle in line with the passages therein, means for holding the stirrup normally away from the ca and a slldably mounted charge ada Vte vto envelop the 1position arge inl late arranged'in rear of detonating charge an strike the ends of the stirrup.

l2. 'A fuse for I p rojectiles havingfa relativelystationary c mounted in advance of the stationary charge, a movable charge mounted 1n rear of the said stationary charge, said movable charge and the cap being adapted to approach the stationary charge during iiight,.and means fori niting the cap upon impact of the projecti e.

13. tionl of an ignition ca a ring pin, and means whereby-when t e projectile is fired space separating it: `rom the pin, t e pin being adapted to move through the remalnarge at a pointbetween `its ends, a'relatively movable ignitlon cap In a fuse for projectiles, the combina-4 de r of the said s ace and penetrate the cap upon impact of t e projectile.'

In testimony whereof Il have* hereunto '.aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses..

KARL vLLnn. Witnesses: I. i I

HENRY HAsPER,

WoLnnMAa HAUPT. 

